Peruvian PTAs

One of the most important aspects of the local Peruvian educational system is the APAFA Parent organization, which essentially a glorified PTA with more extensive responsibilities. The APAFA is responsible for budget related issues, maintaining accountability, and planning events for the school. The APAFA is headed by a board of parents who serve as the governing body for the organization. The structure of APAFA meetings is extremely formal and they can last for up to 4 hours. Emotions tend to run high as each parents seeks to verbalize their opinions, and divisions amongst parents also form quickly over controversial issues.

Today I attended the APAFA meeting at the main Poroto school with both primaria and segundaria parents. I was invited to sit at the front table with the director and junta directive. The meeting was held outdoors on the volleyball court, so parents were sitting over 100 yards away in the bleachers. I was elected to be the Vanna White of the APAFA and hold the papelotes indicating the order of business, budget expenditures, and future topics. I was also given the opportunity to explain my summer plans for the youth of Poroto, which was a great chance to inform parents with the backing of the APAFA president and the director of the school. I’m planning daily programs for the youth, so hopefully they will be interested and able to attend. Work and heavy responsibilities at home often monopolize the free time of youth, so it can be difficult to convince parents that programs are a productive use of time. The idea of speaking at the APAFA meeting was to communicate with parents the details of the programs and hopefully convince them that my classes will be beneficial